Merry Christmas from The Sanders Family

Christmas 2015

Our family is growing older and is moving on to a new phase in life.  It has been exciting. 

Tilly:  I turned four years old a few weeks ago.  My favorite things this year were swimming this summer and learning to ride my bike without training wheels.  I stay home with my Mom while the big kids go to school.  I like to go to the park and read books with Mom.  I am excited to go to preschool next fall.

Marlee:  I am six years old.  This year I had fun when I got to watch movies and start piano lessons.  My favorite things are my stuffed unicorn, coloring, reading, and getting presents.  In school my favorite subject is art.  My teacher told my Mom that I am a math whiz.  I got to sing in the Gilbert Youth Chorus during the spring and I got to play soccer during the fall.  I am looking forward to Christmas. 

Karalee:  I am nine years old.  This year I got to play volleyball, soccer and take piano lessons.  I might be able to play basketball next year.  I like sports.  My favorite sport is soccer.  In school I like all subjects.  I really like playing at recess.  I had fun going to sea world and universal studios with my family this year.  It was a fun vacation because we got to stay at my cousin’s house.  I love being in activity days at church.  I am looking forward to playing basketball next year.

Bryant:  I am eleven.  I played basketball during the spring and I played soccer this fall.  I also take piano lessons from my mom.  My favorite things to do are, reading and playing video games.  Math is my favorite subject at school, mostly because it is easy.  I got to play in a whiffle ball league during lunch time with the other 6th graders who signed up.  My favorite vacation this year was camping at Bear Canyon Lake with my family and lots of our friends.  We got to go kayaking.  I am looking forward to junior high and becoming a deacon next year.   

Spencer:  I am fourteen.  This year I got to play co-ed soccer, flag football and basketball for my school.  In football we got to go to the playoffs.  We made it to the semi-finals.  In school I am learning Latin, which I don’t like, and I sing in the choir, which I like.  I think it is pretty cool that I am now taller than my Mom.  I am 5’10”.  I still play the piano and have enjoyed learning some current pop songs this year.  I like to read, play sports, and play video games.  My favorite trip this year was when I got to go to Rocky Point, Mexico during fall break.  It was cool to skim board, ride on the banana boat, and to see sting rays while I was snorkeling.  I am excited to go to mountain man rendezvous and on a stake pioneer trek next year.

Mindy:  I have hesitated to write a Christmas letter this year.  There have certainly been many good, fun, blessed things that have happened in our family…but it has also been a growing year with several hard challenges.  I have not known quite how to express how I’ve felt.  Then I came across this scripture that sums up my feelings for this year, “…the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him” (Alma 58:11).  I am grateful to have felt the hand of the Lord during both the good times and the hard times this year.  I enjoy keeping up with the kids and their activities and I’m glad I still have Tilly at home with me for another 1 ½ years.  This year I enjoyed date nights with Chad, playing volleyball on Tuesday nights, accompanying various musical numbers, working with the young women in the ward, and vacationing with my family.  I am looking forward to a trip with Chad at the end of this month in celebration of our 15th wedding anniversary. 

Chad:  This year I officially got old.  I injured myself playing flag football in March and didn’t get better like I wanted to.  I ended up with meniscus surgery in October and everyone keeps telling me I am not young anymore.  We had a great time on our family vacations this year in California, Rocky Point, and camping up at Bear Canyon Lake.  I enjoyed playing sports up until my knee surgery so now I enjoy watching my kids play sports.  I am serving in the Elders Quorum presidency and my job continues to keep me pretty busy as well.  Life is good and we have been very blessed this year.

Nativity script in English and Spanish

Nativity

(ENTER JOSEPH AND MARY)

Luke 2

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; …

 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

(ENTER BABY JESUS)

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

(ENTER SHEPARDS AND ANGEL)

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

(ENTER MULTITUDE OF ANGELS)

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

(ENTER 3 WISEMEN)

Matthew 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

11 ¶And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, andfrankincense, and myrrh.

We gather each year at Christmas to hear this story of Jesus. We give gifts in remembrance of the Wise Men and their gifts to the Christ child, but more importantly to celebrate the gift given by our Father in Heaven.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16

(EVERYONE SING SILENT NIGHT) 

Spanish version (stage cues are still in English)

Enter Joseph and Mary

Lucas 2:

 1 Y aconteció en aquellos días que salió un edicto de parte de Augusto César, que toda la tierra fuese empadronada.

 3 E iban todos para ser empadronados, cada uno a su ciudad.

 4 Entonces subió José de Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, a Judea, a la ciudad de David, que se llama Belén….

 5 para ser empadronado con María, su mujer, desposadacon él, la que estaba encinta.

Enter Baby Jesus

 6 Y aconteció que estando ellos allí, se cumplieron los días en que ella había de dar a luz.

 7 Y dio a luz a su hijo primogénito, y lo envolvió en pañales y lo acostó en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en el mesón.

Enter Shepherds and Angel

8 Y había pastores en la misma región, que velaban y guardaban las vigilias de la noche sobre sus rebaños.

 9 Y he aquí, se les presentó un ángel del Señor, y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor; y tuvieron gran temor.

 10 Pero el ángel les dijo: No temáis, porque he aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo, que serán para todo el pueblo:

 11 que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, unSalvador, que es CRISTO el Señor.

 12 Y esto os servirá de señal: Hallaréis al niño envuelto en pañales, acostado en un pesebre.

Enter multitude of Angels

13 Y repentinamente apareció con el ángel una multitud de las huestes celestiales, que alababan a Dios y decían:

 14 ¡Gloria a Dios en las alturas,y en la tierra paz, buena voluntad para con los hombres!

 15 Y aconteció que cuando los ángeles se fueron de ellos al cielo, los pastores se dijeron los unos a los otros: Pasemos, pues, hasta Belén, y veamos esto que ha sucedido y que el Señor nos ha manifestado.

 16 Y vinieron deprisa y hallaron a María, y a José, y al niño acostado en el pesebre.

 17 Y al verlo, dieron a conocer lo que se les había dicho acerca del niño.

 18 Y todos los que oyeron se maravillaron de lo que los pastores les decían.

Enter 3 wisemen

Mateo 2:

1 Y cuando Jesús nació en Belén de Judea en los días del rey Herodes, he aquí, unos magos vinieron del oriente aJerusalén,

 2 diciendo: ¿Dónde está el Rey de los judíos que ha nacido? Porque su estrella hemos visto en el oriente y venimos a adorarle.

 11 Y cuando entraron en la casa, vieron al niño con su madre María, y postrándose, le adoraron; y abriendo sus tesoros, le ofrecieron presentes: oro, e incienso y mirra.

Entonces nos reunimos cada ano en Navidad para escuchar esta historia de Jesus.  Damos regalos en recuerdo de los Reses Magos y sus regalos al nino Jesus, pero lo mas importante para celebrar el don dado por nuestro Padre Celestial.

Juan 3:16 Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo que ha dado a su Hijo Unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.

Everyone sing Noche de Luz